Carrying case



ves

Patented Jan. 19, 1932 HARRY H. IJAIBADIE, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CARRYING CASE Application led October 24, 1928.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in holders and carrying cases for book-s or similar articles, and

.v more particularly toa device of this character adapted to support and simultaneously display a plurality ot books or pamphlets in any desired open'position, or to compactly house and protect the books, without moving them from their disalay positions7 in con- 10 venient form for carrying the assembled book-s and holder from place to place.

Briefly describedl the holder consists of a pair of trays or casing members hinged together so that they may be moved to positions for simultaneously displaying articles carried by the inner face of each tray, or may be swung together to form a closed carrying case. A third supporting member or flap is hinged to one of the iiee edges of one of the tray members so that it may be swung out to a position adapted to conveniently `display a book or other article carried by the inner face of the flap. When swung inwardly, the

. flap serves as a means for separating the i books or other articles carried by the tray members, the flap and the book carried thereby being completely housed within the casing formed by the two tray members. The principal object of this invention is to provide a holder and carrying case such as briefly described hereinabove, and disclosed morein detail in the specifications which follow.

Another ob]- ect is to provide a carrying case dapted when open to simultaneously display l two or morea preferably three. books in positions so that they may be simultaneously observed and read. Another object is to provide a device of this 40 type that 'is simple and easy to operate and economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a holder of this type that completely protects and preserves the books when the case is moved to closed position.

Another object is to provide a device of this type which is substantially dust and rain proof when closed.

5P Another object is to provide a device of this type which is substantially rigid and Serial No. 314,679.

will keep its shape under all ordinary conditions.

Another object is to provide a device of this type provided with means for conveniently holding all of the books in open position, whether the case is opened or closed. In this way, the carrying case'may be closed without closing any of the books, and hence without losing the places or pages in each Fig. 2 is a perspective View, on a larger scale7 of the holder and carrying case in open display position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the closed case when in the position shown in l, with the books therein.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the case when closedas shown in Fig. l. To facilitate the showing the books are not included in this view.

The holder comprises two trays or casing Y members l and 27 which are hinged to one another at 3 so that they may be swung together as shown in Fig. l to form a closed compact carrying case. The main tray member 1, which is made somewhat larger and heavier than the member 2 so as to form a supporting member for the assembly when opened to display positions, is provided with a carrying handle 4 and a lock 5 or clasps 6, or both, whereby the members l and 2 may be secured together as indicated in Fig. l. The hinges 3 are of the stop-hinge type so that when the casing member l is in the hori- Zontal supporting position shown in Fig. 2,

the tray or member 2 is limited when swung to open position to the upwardly and rearwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 2. The straps shown at 7 may also be used to limit the 'opening movement of tray member 2.

Each of the trays l and 2 is formed of a rigid framework comprising a bottom and the four side walls, the frame being covered with leather or suitable composition material and lined in any desired manner. The lining material on the inner face of the bottom of tray 1 is formed with a pair of end pockets 8 o ening toward one another so that the sti covers or backs 9 of a book indicated at 10 may be inserted in these pockets 8. It will be apparent that the book may be readily removed or inserted to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with its cover members 9 in substantially the same plane so that the book may be opened to anyvlcllesired place and held in that position. e pockets 8 may be conveniently formed by sewing extra semi-stii' iaps of lining material across the end portions of the material used to line the bottom of the tray.

In an exactly similar manner, pockets 11 are formed in the bottom of tray 2 for removably supporting a book 12.

A flap 13 used for supporting a third book 0r pamphlet 14 is hinged to the free upper edge 15 oftray 2. This flap 13 may be Jformed of a suitable stiff backing of cardboard or other material which is covered and lined with the same materials used on the trays l and 2. This covering material may be used "o form the hinge 16 by which the fiap 13 is secured to tray 2, and this hinge is so secured to the inner side of the upper wall 15 of tray 2, that the flap 13 will be limited in its opening movement to a position in substantial alignment or parallelism with the tray 2, as shown in Fig. 2. When swung inwardly, this flap 13 will lie between and space apart the books 10 and 12 carried by trays l and 2, and will be completely housed Within the case formed by the trays 1 and 2 when closed as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

Flap 13 is formed on its inner face with a pair of pockets 17, similar to the pockets 8 and ll in the trays, for receiving the backs or covers of the book or pamphlet 14. Any suitable means may be used for holding the book 14 in any desired open position, particularly while the flap 13 is being swung to open or closed positions. As here shown, a strap or band 18 of elastic material is secured at its ends to the sides of flap 13 so that it may he snapped into place over the lower ortion of the open leaves of book 14. A oose and replaceable elastic strap or band completely encircling the flap 13 could be used for this purpose, or any suitable form of clips or fasteners might be used for engaging the corners or ends of the pages of book 14. If desired, a pencil holder 19 may be secured to the upper free edge of flap 134.

While there are many purposes for which this holder and carrying case might be used, 1t is particularly well adapted for Christian Science students, who wish to simultaneously consult a lesson book or pamphlet 14, Science and Health 12 and the bible 10. The lesson pamphlet will be placed on flap 13 and opened to the desired page and held in this position by elastic member 18. The Science and Health book will be placed in tray 2 as indicated at 12 and opened to the lesson or subject indicated in the lesson pamphlet 14. In an exactly similar manner, the bible 10 will be mounted in the tray 1 and opened to the'lesson indicated in pamphlet 14. Each of the three books will now be held in convenient open position for reading, and the attention may be directed from one book to another with little effort and great saving oftime. The tray 1 may be supported on any convenient desk or table, or in the lap, with all three books supported in convenient open position for consultation. When the books are to be transported from' place to place, it is not necessary to close the books but they may be left in the desired open positions. The liap 13 is first swung into the tray 2, thus holding book 12 in open position. The tray 2 is then swung over the tray 1, clamping book 10 in open position, the several parts of the device and the books carried thereby being then in the positions indicated in Fig. 3. The case is now closed as shown in Fig. 1 and may be stored away or carried easily from place to place. When in this form, the case is substantially dust and rain-proof, and the books are entirely protected and kept clean, although they are ready for instant use.

When it is again desired to consult the books, it is merely necessary to first swing up the tray 2 and then swing flap 13 to open pdsition, and all three books will be instantly displayed in the desired open positions.

The case when closed may be locked at 5 so as to prevent the unauthorized removal or use of the books. It will be apparent that `the Hap 13 might be hinged to one of the end walls of either of the trays 1 or 2, but the position shown in the example here disclosed is preferable and has been found most satisfactory.

The book-retaining pockets might be varied from the form here shown, or other means might be used for holding the book covers in place. These supports or display members might also be used for holding maps or pictures or other similar articles instead of the books here shown by way of example, or a book or books might be supported on one or two of the members and maps or pictures which are to be simultaneously consulted could be supported on the remaining members.

I claim:

1. A holder and carrier for books and similar articles, comprising a plurality of members hinged together so that they may be swung to positions for simultaneously displaying books carried one on each member,

and means on. each member for holding the covers oi an opened book in substantially the same plane, the members being foldable into mutual engagement so that they cooperate to hold all oi' the books in any selected open positions.

2. A holder and carrier for books and similar articles, comprising a plurality of substantially fiat members hingen together so that they may be swung to positions for simultaneously displaying books carried one on each member, and means on each member for holding the covers of an opened book in substantially the same plane, the members being toldable into mutual engagement so that they cooperate to enclose the books and hold all of the books in any selected open positions7 two of the members having edge flanges which Vengage when in this closed position to form a case for completely enclosing the books.

3. A holder and carrier for books and similar articles, comprising a plurality of members hinged together so that they may be swung to positions for simultaneously displaying hooks carried one on each member, and pockets on each member for holding the covers of an opened book 1n substantially the same plane, the members being oldable into mutual engagement so that they coop-l erate to hold all of the books in any selected open positions.

4. A holder and carrier for books or similar articles, comprising a main tray member adapted to serve as a horizontal support, an auxiliary tray member, hinges connecting the trays one edge so that the trays may be swung together to form a closed case or the auxiliary tray may be swung to and supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, a flap hinged to the free upper edge of the auxiliary tray and adapted tobe swung` to and supported in an upwardly .and rearwardly inclined position in substantial alignment with the auxiliary tray, the ap also being adapted to`be swung down and housed within the case when the trays are closed together, and a pair of pockets formed on the inner face of each tray and the flap, each pair of pockets being adapted to receive and hold the covers of an open book.

5. A holder and carrier for books or similar articles. comprising a. main tray member adapted to serve as a horizontal support, an auxiliary tray member, hinges connecting the trays at one edge so that the trays may be swung together to form a closed case or the auxiliary tray may be swung to and supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, a iiap hinged to the free upper edge ot the auxiliary tray and adapted to be swung to and supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position in substantial alignment with the auxiliary tray, the flap also being adapted to be swung down and housed within the case when the trays are closed together, and article holding means positioned on the inner face of each tray and the flap.

6. A holder and carrier for books or similar articles, comprising a main tray member adapted to serve as a horizontal support, an auxiliary tray member, hinges connecting the trays at one edge so that the trays may be swung together to form a closed case or the auxiliary tray may be swung to and supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, a flap hinged to the free upper edge of the auxiliary tray and adapted to be swung to and supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position in substantial alignment with the auxiliary tray, the flap also being adapted to be swung down and housed within the case when the trays are closed together, and a pocket formed on each end portion of the inner face of each tray and the flap, each pair of pockets opening toward one another and adapted to receive the covers of an open book.

7. A holder and carrier for books or similar articles, comprising a main tray member adapted to serve as a horizontal support, an auxiliary tray member, hinges connecting the trays at one edge so that the trays may be swung together to form a closed case or the auxiliary tray may be swung to and supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, a flap hinged to the free upper edge of the auxiliary tray and adapted to be swung to and supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position in substantial alignment with the auxiliary tray, the flap also being adapted to be swung down and housed within the case when the trays are closed together, and a pocket formed on each end portion of the inner face of each tray and the flap, each pair of pockets opening toward one another and adapted to receive the covers of an open book, a handle for carrying the case and means :tor securing the trays together in closed positions.

HARRY H. LABADIE. 

